HEAT EXCHANGER WITH THERMOELECTRIC ELEMENTS

Abstract

A heat exchanger apparatus with thermoelectric elements may include a heat-absorbing pipe that transfers heat from one side to another side thereof, a pair of thermoelectric elements that may be provided on the another side of the heat-absorbing pipe opposed to each other with respect to the heat-absorbing pipe, each of the thermoelectric elements having a heat-absorbing surface in contact with the heat-absorbing pipe, a pair of heat-discharging pipes, each of the heat-discharging pipes having a surface in contact with a heat-discharging surface of the respective thermoelectric element on one side thereof, and heat exchanging members provided on the one side of the heat-absorbing pipe and on another side of the heat-discharging pipes.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0157908, filed on Dec. 18, 2013, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger with thermoelectric elements that is compact even with the thermoelectric elements, is easily designed and fabricated, and has good efficiency, and a method of manufacturing the same.

2. Description of Related Art

Previously, a heat exchanger using thermoelectric elements has a plate structure. In a plate structure, a channel for coolant is provided on one side of the plate and air-side radiation fins are installed on another side where heat is radiated.

Such a plate structure, however, has drawbacks in that it is too heavy and the thickness of water-side contact portion cannot be reduced so that overheating may be caused when thermoelectric elements are operated.

As another structure of heat exchangers with thermoelectric elements, there is a core structure. In a core structure, pipes are located on both sides, a plurality of tubes are connected between the pipes, thermoelectric elements are located on the tubes, and air-side radiation fins are located on the thermoelectric elements. Such a core structure, however, is difficult to fabricate because thermoelectric elements should be assembled after a core is assembled according to its assembly scheme, and thus variations in quality are caused too much.

The present invention is directed to a structure of a heat exchanger with thermoelectric elements in which coolant flows on one side while air flows on another side, and specifically to a structure that thermal resistance on the coolant side is minimized, thermoelectric elements are easily mounted when assembling the heat exchanger, and quality control can be individually performed. Further, the present invention is directed to a structure that cost for manufacturing molds is minimized by sharing elements.

The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a heat exchanger with thermoelectric elements that is compact even with the thermoelectric elements, is easily designed and fabricated, and has good efficiency, and a method of manufacturing the same.

In an aspect of the present invention, a heat exchanger apparatus with thermoelectric elements, may include a heat-absorbing pipe that transfers heat from one side to another side thereof, a pair of thermoelectric elements that are provided on the another side of the heat-absorbing pipe opposed to each other with respect to the heat-absorbing pipe, each of the thermoelectric elements having a heat-absorbing surface in contact with the heat-absorbing pipe, a pair of heat-discharging pipes, each of the heat-discharging pipes having a surface in contact with a heat-discharging surface of the respective thermoelectric element on one side thereof, and heat exchanging members provided on the one side of the heat-absorbing pipe and on another side of the heat-discharging pipes.

The heat-absorbing pipe and the heat-discharging pipes may have a plate shape.

The another side of the heat-absorbing pipe is at least level with or higher than the one side thereof.

The pair of the heat-discharging pipes are symmetric to each other with respect to the heat-absorbing pipe such that the heat-discharging pipes face each other to the another side of the heat-absorbing pipe.

The another side of the heat-discharging pipe is at least level with or higher than the one side thereof.

The heat exchanging members are heat exchanging fins.

Heat exchanging fins come in contact with two surfaces of the heat-absorbing pipe on the one side thereof, as the heat exchanging members.

Heat exchanging fins come in contact with two surfaces of the heat-discharging pipes on the another side thereof, as the heat exchanging members, wherein adjacent heat-discharging pipes share the heat exchanging fins therebetween.

A heat-discharging duct is connected to a front of the heat-discharging pipes and a heat-absorbing duct is connected to a front of the heat-absorbing pipe.

The heat-discharging pipes and the heat-absorbing pipe form a right angle therebetween.

In another aspect of the present invention, a heat exchanger apparatus with thermoelectric elements is configured with heat exchanging modules arranged in parallel, in which each of the heat exchanging modules may include a heat-absorbing pipe that transfers heat from one side to another side thereof, a pair of thermoelectric elements that are provided on the another side of the heat-absorbing pipe opposed to each other with respect to the heat-absorbing pipe, each of the thermoelectric elements having a heat-absorbing surface in contact with the heat-absorbing pipe, a pair of heat-discharging pipes, each of the heat-discharging pipes having a surface in contact with a heat-discharging surface of the respective thermoelectric elements on one side thereof, and heat exchanging members provided on the one side of the heat-absorbing pipe and on the another side of the heat-discharging pipe.

Adjacent heat exchanging modules may have a heat transfer weight part between facing surfaces on one side of adjacent heat-discharging pipes.

Adjacent heat exchanging modules share the heat exchanging members between facing surfaces on one side of adjacent heat-absorbing pipes.

Adjacent heat exchanging modules share the heat exchanging members between facing surfaces on another side of adjacent heat-discharging pipes.

The one side of the heat-absorbing pipe is lower than the another side thereof and the thermoelectric elements are connected on another side, and the one side of the heat-discharging pipes is lower than another side thereof and the thermoelectric elements are connected on the one side.

A heat-discharging duct is connected to a front of the heat-discharging pipes and a heat-absorbing duct is connected to a front of the heat-absorbing pipe.

The heat-discharging pipes and the heat-absorbing pipe form a right angle therebetween.

The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger with thermoelectric elements according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the heat exchanger according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views showing examples of installing a heat exchanger with thermoelectric elements according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment.

In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Embodiments of the present invention are described hereafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger with thermoelectric elements according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the heat exchanger according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are views showing examples of installing a heat exchanger with thermoelectric elements according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

A heat exchanger with thermoelectric elements according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a heat-absorbing pipe 300 that transfers heat from one side 301 to another side 302, a pair of thermoelectric elements 100 and 100′ that are provided at another side 302 of the heat-absorbing pipe 300 with heat-absorbing surfaces in contact with the heat-absorbing pipe 300, a pair of heat-discharging pipes 200 and 200′, each of which has a surface on one side 201 in contact with the heat-discharging surfaces of the respective thermoelectric element 100 and 100′, and heat exchanging members 220, 240, 320 and 340 provided at the one side 301 of the heat-absorbing pipe 300 and another side 202 of the heat-discharging pipe 200 and 200′.

The thermoelectric elements 100 and 100′, upon receiving electricity, serve to absorb heat to discharge it from one side to another side. Thus, one side surface thereof serves as a heat-absorbing surface and another side surface thereof serves as a heat-discharging surface.

In such a heat exchanger using thermoelectric elements 100 and 100′, the performance of the heat exchanger relies especially on how efficiently heat is discharged from the heat-discharging surfaces in cooling operation. Therefore, such a heat exchanger using thermoelectric elements requires that the area or weight of the heat-discharging side is greater than that of the heat-absorbing side. To this end, a heat exchanger with thermoelectric elements according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a heat-absorbing pipe 300 that transfers heat from one side 301 to another side 302, a pair of thermoelectric elements 100 and 100′ that are provided on both sides of the heat-absorbing pipe 300 on another side 302 thereof, with heat-absorbing surfaces in contact with the heat-absorbing pipe 300, a pair of heat- discharging pipe 200 and 200′, each of which has a surface on one side 201 in contact with the heat-discharging surfaces of the respective thermoelectric element 100 and 100′, and heat exchanging members 220, 240, 320 and 340 provided on the one side 301 of the heat-absorbing pipe 300 and another side 202 of the heat-discharging pipe 200 and 200′.

The heat-absorbing pipe 300 transfers heat from the one side 301 to another side 302. Further, the thermoelectric elements 100 and 100′ are provided on another side 302 of the heat-absorbing pipe 300 opposed to each other with respect to the heat-absorbing pipe 300. With this configuration, the thermoelectric elements 100 and 100′ receive heat from one heat-absorbing pipe 300 to discharge the heat through the heat-discharging surfaces on the outer sides.

The heat-discharging surfaces of the thermoelectric elements 100 and 100′ come in contact with a pair of heat-discharging pipes 200 and 200′ on one side 201. Accordingly, heat is absorbed through one heat-absorbing pipe 300 whereas the heat is discharged through the pair of thermoelectric elements 100 and 100′ and through the pair of heat-discharging pipes 200 and 200′, thereby increasing the efficiency.

The heat exchanging members 220, 240, 320 and 340 are provided on the one side 301 of the heat-absorbing pipe 300 and on another side 202 of the heat-discharging pipe 200 and 200′, such that heat is exchanged.

The heat-absorbing pipe 300 and the heat-discharging pipe 200 and 200′ may have a plate shape, and the heat exchanging member 220, 240, 320 and 340 may be heat exchanging fins.

As more specifically depicted in FIG. 2, the one side 301 of the heat-absorbing pipe 300 may be level with or higher than another side 302. With this configuration, heat is more efficiently transferred since it is transferred from a lower position to a higher position. Likewise, the pair of heat-discharging pipes 200 and 200′ are symmetric to each other with respect to the heat-absorbing pipe 300 such that they face each other, and another side 202 of the heat-discharging pipes 200 and 200′ may also be at least level with or higher than the one side 201.

In addition, on both side surfaces of the heat-absorbing pipe 300 on the one side 301, heat exchanging fins may come in contact therewith, as the heat exchanging members 320 and 340. Further, on both surfaces of the heat-discharging pipes 200 and 200′ on another side 202, heat exchanging fins may come in contact therewith, as the heat exchanging member 220 and 240. Adjacent heat-discharging pipes 200 and 200′ may share heat exchanging fins.

FIG. 1 shows a general structure of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger with thermoelectric elements according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be configured with heat exchanging modules A arranged in parallel, each of the modules includes: a heat-absorbing pipe 300 that transfers heat from one side 301 to another side 302, a pair of thermoelectric elements 100 and 100′ that are provided on both sides of the heat-absorbing pipe 300 on another side 302 thereof, with heat-absorbing surfaces in contact with the heat-absorbing pipe 300, a pair of heat-discharging pipe 200 and 200′, each of which has a surface on one side 201 in contact with the heat-discharging surfaces of the respective thermoelectric element 100 and 100′, and heat exchanging members 220, 240, 320 and 340 provided on the one side 301 of the heat-absorbing pipe 300 and on another side 202 of the heat-discharging pipe 200 and 200′.

Further, adjacent heat exchanging modules A and B may have a heat-transfer weight part 400 between the facing surfaces of the adjacent heat-discharging pipes 200 and 200′ on the one side 201. With this configuration, at the heat-discharging side, adjacent thermoelectric elements and adjacent heat-discharging pipes are thermally connected to each other, such that they have high weight and thus the efficiency is increased.

Further, adjacent heat exchanging modules A and B may share the heat exchanging member 340 between the facing surfaces of the adjacent heat-absorbing pipes on the one side. Further, adjacent heat exchanging modules A and B may share the heat exchanging member 220′ between the facing surfaces of the adjacent heat-discharging pipes on another side 202. With this configuration, the heat exchanging efficiency is increased.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show examples of installing a heat exchanger with thermoelectric elements according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention depending on a duct arrangement via which air flows. Specifically, FIG. 3 shows a linear duct arrangement in which a heat-discharging duct 20 is on a line with a heat-absorbing duct 30, and FIG. 4 shows a bent duct arrangement in which the heat-discharging duct 20 and the heat-absorbing duct 30 forms 90 degrees. Likewise, the one side of the heat-absorbing pipe is lower than another side thereof, and thermoelectric elements are connected on another side. The one side of the heat-discharging pipe is lower than another side thereof, and thermoelectric elements are connected on the one side. Accordingly, heat is transferred from a lower position to a higher position naturally, such that the heat-transferring efficiency is increased.

As set forth above, according to the heat exchanger with thermoelectric elements thus configured, the performance and efficiency of the thermoelectric element can be maximized, the location of a radiator can be freely determined, and radiation fins can be For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “inner” and “outer” are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures.

The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger apparatus with thermoelectric elements, comprising:

a heat-absorbing pipe that transfers heat from one side to another side thereof;

a pair of thermoelectric elements that are provided on the another side of the heat-absorbing pipe opposed to each other with respect to the heat-absorbing pipe, each of the thermoelectric elements having a heat-absorbing surface in contact with the heat-absorbing pipe;

a pair of heat-discharging pipes, each of the heat-discharging pipes having a surface in contact with a heat-discharging surface of the respective thermoelectric element on one side thereof; and

heat exchanging members provided on the one side of the heat-absorbing pipe and on another side of the heat-discharging pipes.

2. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat-absorbing pipe and the heat-discharging pipes have a plate shape.

3. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1, wherein the another side of the heat-absorbing pipe is at least level with or higher than the one side thereof.

4. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pair of the heat-discharging pipes are symmetric to each other with respect to the heat-absorbing pipe such that the heat-discharging pipes face each other to the another side of the heat-absorbing pipe.

5. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1, wherein the another side of the heat-discharging pipe is at least level with or higher than the one side thereof.

6. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanging members are heat exchanging fins.

7. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1, wherein heat exchanging fins come in contact with two surfaces of the heat-absorbing pipe on the one side thereof, as the heat exchanging members.

8. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1, wherein heat exchanging fins come in contact with two surfaces of the heat-discharging pipes on the another side thereof, as the heat exchanging members, wherein adjacent heat-discharging pipes share the heat exchanging fins therebetween.

9. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1, wherein a heat-discharging duct is connected to a front of the heat-discharging pipes and a heat-absorbing duct is connected to a front of the heat-absorbing pipe.

10. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat-discharging pipes and the heat-absorbing pipe form a right angle therebetween.

11. A heat exchanger apparatus with thermoelectric elements configured with heat exchanging modules arranged in parallel, each of the heat exchanging modules comprising:

a heat-absorbing pipe that transfers heat from one side to another side thereof;

a pair of thermoelectric elements that are provided on the another side of the heat-absorbing pipe opposed to each other with respect to the heat-absorbing pipe, each of the thermoelectric elements having a heat-absorbing surface in contact with the heat-absorbing pipe;

a pair of heat-discharging pipes, each of the heat-discharging pipes having a surface in contact with a heat-discharging surface of the respective thermoelectric elements on one side thereof; and

heat exchanging members provided on the one side of the heat-absorbing pipe and on the another side of the heat-discharging pipe.

12. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 11, wherein adjacent heat exchanging modules have a heat transfer weight part between facing surfaces on one side of adjacent heat-discharging pipes.

13. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 11, wherein adjacent heat exchanging modules share the heat exchanging members between facing surfaces on one side of adjacent heat-absorbing pipes.

14. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 11, wherein adjacent heat exchanging modules share the heat exchanging members between facing surfaces on another side of adjacent heat-discharging pipes.

15. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one side of the heat-absorbing pipe is lower than the another side thereof and the thermoelectric elements are connected on another side, and the one side of the heat-discharging pipes is lower than another side thereof and the thermoelectric elements are connected on the one side.

16. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 11, wherein a heat-discharging duct is connected to a front of the heat-discharging pipes and a heat-absorbing duct is connected to a front of the heat-absorbing pipe.

17. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 11, wherein the heat-discharging pipes and the heat-absorbing pipe form a right angle therebetween.